Ramachandraiah

Sakini Ramachandraiah is a singer and drummer of kanchu melam or kanchu thalam, a music tradition of the Koya tribal community of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. He was named for the Padma Shri in 2022 in the field of art, from Telangana ^[1].

Keeper of a tale

Ramachandraiah was born on 1 January 1963 to Sakini Musaliah and Sakini Gangamma and grew up in Kunavaram village, Manuguru mandal, Bhadradri Kothagudem district ^[2]. He learned the art from his forefathers ^[2].

He is described as the only person left in his community who can narrate the history of the sacred Sammakka-Sarakka festival in both Telugu and Koya, and he can sing the whole tale of the goddesses without a break for 24 hours ^[2]. The art form is close to dying out, and he teaches it to young people who want to learn ^[2].

His story came to wider notice through a documentary by the retired Osmania University professor Jayadheer Thirumala Rao, made with the tribal development agency at Bhadrachalam ^[2]. He has shared his knowledge of Koya history, origins and culture with researchers, the media and young people ^[2].